Why is Don Siegelman still in jail?

[LaydeeBug]

I am not sure what I'm missing here. I am surprised he's still in prison, and I don't understand it.

When they're saying that what he did was never a crime before he got charged with it, how is he there at all


And is there any reason that we know of as to why President Obama hasn't pardoned him? It seems to me there has to be more to the story if he hasn't been released or had his sentence commuted.

Does anyone have some insights on this?

[immoderate]

1. I'd like to know too.

AFAIK, all (or mostly all) of state attorneys general have signed letters requesting commutation. Wassup?

--imm

[Blue Owl]

2. Because he's not a Repuke

Edit -- make that a lying, cheating, stealing Repuke.

[LaydeeBug]

7. seriously. What did he do that got him here...and HOW LONG TIL IT'S COMMUTED?

If he committed a crime, what is it?

[mindwalker_i]

3. Because he's a Democrat (EOM)

[Jefferson23]

4. Try and get the administration to answer that question.

Good luck.

[LaydeeBug]

5. I am just wondering why this is like kryptonite. Maybe that's hyperbole. Like a hot potato. nt

[Uncle Joe]

6. That's a great question and I haven't seen an answer to it yet.

Thanks for the thread, LaydeeBug.

[meow2u3]

8. He's a political prisoner nt

[99Forever]

9. Seems our exalted leader only uses his political capital to ...

... excuse War Criminals and 1%er Banksters for their "misdeeds."

Honest progressives and liberals don't rate help from 3rd wayers.

[LaydeeBug]

10. while I take a little umbrage at the term 'exalted leader'

I cannot deny he gave a pass to the other guys.

[99Forever]

11. We all take our "umbrage" where...

... we are offended. I'm offended by corporatist policies and protection of those who commit Crimes Against Humanity. I guess you have a different set of standards.

[LaydeeBug]

12. I don't have a different set of standards...I just don't think attributing a religious moniker to a

secular leader is accurate.

[99Forever]

17. Whatever.

[Octafish]

13. The Administration fears Karl Rove's masters.

AG Holder and Associate Justice Kagan, as Solicitor General, carried Rove's water.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2075771

[MrMickeysMom]

14. The SCOTUS refuses to hear the case...

There is no reason for his being the political prisoner... oh, and we never tortured OTHER political prisoners like Manning...

http://www.donsiegelman.org

[Recursion]

15. Because Doug Jones was working for the other side while he was Don's lawyer

That's probably the biggest reason.

[Samantha]

16. I believe the Justice Department reviewed the transcripts of the trial and said it saw no basis

for a new trial. I believe that is what I read here some time ago. It was a huge disappointment to me. On the other hand, the administration probably knew should it intervene the Republicans would raise a huge stink and accuse President Obama of playing politics. Not that that is really an excuse .... I do believe Siegelman is innocent and that Karl Rove was behind the entire set-up.

Rove engineered the theft of the 2000 and 2004 Presidential elections and got away with it, so I am thinking a governorship certainly was also within his corrupt reach.

Sam

[rhett o rick]

18. I believe the President is waiting until towards the end of his term when he pardons the Bush War

Criminals. I think he is waiting until then to pardon Gov Siegelman which will take some of the sting out.